Two-way tractor mounted plow



June 9, 1953 M. 1-. HEDQUIST ET AL 2,641,171

TWO-WAY TRACTOR MOUNTED PLOW Filed March so, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 1 u 1953 M. T. HEDQUIST ET AL 2,641,171

TWO-WAY TRACTOR MOUNTED PLOW Filed March 30, 1945 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 J1me 1953 M. 'r. HEDQUIST ET AL ,171

TWO-WAY TRACTOR MOUNTED PLOW Filed March 30, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 LFQQI 2 I4 119 Patented June 9, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TWO-WAY'TRACTOR- MOUNT-ED PLOW Application March30, 1945; Serial No." 585;772.

6 Claims- 1 This invention relates to" two=way tractor mounted plows:

Themain objectsof the invention are to providea two-way plow structure of the character: indicated" which may be easily mounted on a v tractor; which, in use, maybe easily adjusted for'controlling the depthof plowing, which is equipped'with a relatively-simple and easily accessible means for leveling the plow'bottoms with respect: to the normal horizontal of the tractor when it is tiltediincident to the running-pf one wheel in a previously plowed furrow while the other wheel isill' elevated position: on'.unplowed' ground; and which embodies right andrleit hand plow units which are constructed largely of like parts and-only: a few ofwvhich are distinguishable as night and left hand'lparts; and to'p-rovide a two "-way plow structure-wherein the" plows may be adjusted vertically: into and; out of operative position independently of. eachlother-by power lift means provided 'on'thetractor.

Other objects and advantages of the-invention will be understood by reference to the fol lowing specification and accompanying drawings (three sheets) wherein there is illustrated a two.- way, tractormountedv plow structure embodying a" selected form of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l isa sideelevation of thestructure as .it appears uponthe. removalofvone wheel of the tractor;

Fig. 2 is arearelevation;

Figs. 3; 4 and15 are fragmentary, sections re? spectively on the line 3'3,' 4:4 and 5'5 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective illustrating a'detail of the structure.

The two-Way plow structureherein illustrated, comprises left and right hand plow beams l and 2 respectively; having attached thereto plows 3 and l. Theplow beams l and 2 are of substantially like" construction differing mainly in' that the rear ends are oppositely offset outwardly slightly as illustrated in' Fig. 2- in keeping with moreor less common practice.

Except for certain elements of mechanism which are-commontm both the-right and left hand structures, the following description of the left hand plow beam audits operating parts will serve also as an explanation of the right hand unit, it being: observed, however; thatcertain partslareamade: right hand instead 'of left-hand as i is clearly shown in the drawings:

Thewfront end. of 'eachtplow beam is provided with a: fork formedlby outer and inner bracket members 5 andi5 respectively (see'Figs-s 3:and"

6). Theiinner merchant is a'straightb-arelilre extensionof the: inside surface .of .the plow-beam and the outer member 5 includes an outwardly directedlaterally extending'portion l and as front end portion? 8 which isroffset outwardly from the rearrportioniil of the member. The-ofiset formof the" outer member 5: serves: to.-increasethe. space betweenithe forward portion; of theinneit'membert and the forward portion: 8 of the outer member 'considerablymore than the-thick; ness of the plow: beam; The members 5% and 6 are suitably bolted. tozthe member I as showm Suitable; pivot: shafts Ill passthroughxholesi; II and 12 provided respectively in thefrontzendporstion'll-andini-the front end portion ot-theeinner member 6- asis perhaps best shown in Fig.6.

The forked. front. ends or: the -respective plow units' are connected. through the respectiveipivot' pins I O to the rear ends-of. a bail-like; structurewhich is, in'turn, secured tothettractor for trans.- mitting the pull of the tractor to 'the'plow struc-'- tures:

Asshown in'l ig.v 3, the bail-likestructurecre; ferred-zto comprises left and .rightsiderarms l3 and H which are rigidly interconnected by-means era-pair of; cross-bars or rods1l5-and l6iwhich pass through suitable openings in the frontends of .the sidamembers-and .are Welded orotherwise rigidly. secured thereto. The rear endszof the "arms 13 and I4 are suitably aperturedzto .receive lthen respective pivot ipins. Wand-said rear endsare further provided with inneriand outer bracketsrll and I8 respectivelyhavin'glfront'end portions boltedtothe sides'of the respectiverarms and rear portions offset inwardly and outwardiy respectively; and"extendedlrearwardly to: provide a 'i'o-rkdike rear end structureirigid with the-re= spective sidearms I (tend 'l 4;:-

The rear ends ofithe' fork'arms- I l and I81; are also'suitably apertured to'receive therespective end portion'sof the pins l0: These fork armszl 1 andl 8'-cooperate with the rear end portion ofthe respective arms l3 and M to :maintain the pins lll in relatively fi'xedrelationto'the ball-like draw bar structure which'may hereinaiter-berefrred to as'a draw bar hall.

The draw bar bail is securedto the tractoras follows: An angle iron-member" l9is bolted" ad= jacent its central portion toasporti0n220 offthe rear" axle housing, which 1. is suitablyiformed' to permit the: attachments of t such aniangle iro'ni;

In'Figs; Band d bolt holes 2| are shown .forz'the' passage-ofxbolts through the angle ironmember indicated. Said angle iron member is extends transversely of the tractor and is connected near its ends by means of suitable brace members Pill- 32 to the draw bar coupling plate 23 which is usually provided at the rear end of the rear axle housing of the tractor. Said draw bar plate 3 is, of course, rigidly secured to the tractor structure so that the braces 22 which preferably diverge forwardly are eifective to rigidly hold the angle iron member it against rocking in horizontal direction.

To the vertical flange 24 at the front of the angle iron is there are bolted near each end upper and lower clip or clevis members 25 and 26 respectively, the forward ends of which are connected by a suitable bolt 21. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the clevis members 25 and 26 and the bolt 2'! cooperate to form a receiving socket for draw bar bail member [6 whereby forward or rearward movement of the tractor is transmitted to said draw bar bail. The bail is also permitted to rock in a vertical direction about the axis of the rod It as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 1.

To the opposite ends of the angle iron member I9 there are rigidly secured as by welding, inverted 'U-shaped clips such as shown at 2B. These clips are adapted to embrace the respective side arms i3 and I4 of the draw bar bail and the lower ends of the clips are closed by transverse bolts 29 equipped with suitable spacing sleeves 30 to retain the arms I3 and M in the clips. The clips 28 thus serve to limit the extent to which the arms I3 and [4 may be rocked about the axis of the cross member l6.

' When each plow unit is in its lowered operative or plowing position (the position in which the plow beam i and plow 3 are shown in Fig. 1), the plow floats and may rock vertically about the pivot pin it by means of which its plow beam is connected to the draw bar bail. The depth to which plowing is effected is controlled by adjusting the height of the pivot pin l and this may be eifected by means of a hand lever 3|. The hand lever 3| is pivoted as indicated at 32, on the right hand one of a pair of brackets 33 which are respectively mounted on the right and left hand axle housings as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The brackets 33 may be merely clamped on the axle housings as shown, or if preferred, they may be rigidly secured by welding or otherwise. The lever 3| is provided with a more or less conventional spring actuated pin 34 which cooperates with a notched segment 35 carried by the bracket 33, for locking the lever in any selected position of adjustment.

Near its lower end, the lever 3| is provided with a rearwardly extending arm portion 36, the outer or rear end of which is connected by means of a link 31 to the pivot pin ll! of the right hand plow structure. It will be seen that any pivotal adjustment of the hand lever 3| will be transmitted directly by the link 3! to the right hand plow unit pivot pin Ill. Since the right hand pivot pin I0 is carried by one arm of the rigid draw bar bail, the other arm and pivot pin will be simultaneously and correspondingly adjusted Hence, the vertical position of both pivot pins I0 is readily adjustable simultaneously by operation of the hand lever 3|.

Raisin of the plow beams from operative to inoperative position is preferably eifected by a connection to the usual power lift provided for that purpose on most tractors. In the construction illustrated; the means for lifting the plows comprise for each plow unit an arm 38 which is pivotally mounted at its front end as shown at 39 on the adjacent bracket 33. The arm 38 is preferably provided at its front end with a member 40 having relatively laterally offset forward and rear portions of which the rear portion is bolted in face-to-face relation to the arm 38 and the forward portion is adapted to cooperate with the front end of the arm 38 to engage horizontally spaced portions of the pivot pin 39. This arrangement serves to prevent twisting of the arm 38 about an axis extending longitudinally thereof. Each arm 38 is further provided with an upwardly extending arm 4| which has its upper end connected by means of a suitable link rod 42 to a power driven crank provided on the tractor. The link 42 for each plow unit is connected to its own power crank, there being such a power crank provided at each side of the tractor.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. l, the link rod 42 extends forwardly and downwardly at a considerable angle which in this instance, represents the position of the connecting link when it is connected to the power crank of the tractor through a suitable bell crank power transmission arrangement located near the bottom of the tractor and having one arm linked to the power crank arm of the tractor. Such an arrangement is desirable in order that the links 42 be kept at a low elevation where they do not interfere with the access of the driver of the tractor to the drivers seat, and where there is less danger that the driver of the tractor will come in contact with the rods when they are operated for lifting the respective plows.

Upward movement of the rear ends of the plow lifting arms 38 is transmitting to the respective plows by means of a chain, such as indicated at 43, the opposite ends of which are suitably connected to the arm and plow beam.

The following structure is provided for releasably locking each plow in the inoperative elevated position:

To each plow beam there is pivoted a bar M, the upper end portion 45 of which is bent laterally outwardly as best shown in Fig. 2. The pivot connection of the bar 44 to the plow beam may be made by means of a bolt 46 which extends through and connects the free ends of a U-shaped clip 4'! which embraces the plow beam as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The clip 41 may, of course, be adjusted to any desired position lengthwise of the plow beams and it may be locked in selected position by tightening the nut on the bolt to the required extent.

Near its lower end, each bar 44 is provided with a recess 48 in its front edge thereby forming a downwardly facing seat or shoulder .9. The upper end portion of each bar 44 is slidable in a way provided between inner and outer members 50 and 5| respectively (Fig. 5), which are carried by a suitable frame structure 52. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the frame structure 52 comprises a pair of crossed bar members 53, the front and rear ends of which are respectively secured to the rear axle housing structure and to an angle iron member 54. A brace 55 having its upper end secured to said angle iron member 54 and its lower end secured to the draw bar angle plate 23, aids in supporting the frame structure 52 in the required position. To further support the angle member 54- against tilting, there is provided a V-shaped brace structure comprising arms 5656 having their rear ends secured to the rear zgeaigmr The angle member haswelded to it at each end; a transverse'bar '1 whichforms' a mounting'plate' on which to attachthe' inneran'dout-ermembers and 5| by means'ofbolts 58* and 59'- respectively. A- suitablespacing sleeve 60 ispr'o'- vided on the bolt 59'to maintain the members 50 and 5i in suitably spaced relation. The bar 44 is yieldingly pressedtowardthe spacing sleeve 60 by means ofa' follower 61 carried by one end of a rod 62. whichis urged tomove in the required direction by a spring 63. which is under compression between alaterally inwardly bent portion M of the outer member 5i, and a transverse pin 85 carried by the rod 62.

The rod 62 is slidably supported in suitable apertures provided in theend member 64 and in an intermediate plate 65 which is carriedby the: members. 50 and 5|. movement of the plow beam willibe transmitted through the pivot 46 to the bar.44iand that-when the plowv is. raised to the requiredelevation, the spring-63 will force the bar. 44 tomove forwardly slightly about its pivot 46! so as to cause the shoulder or seat 49 to overliethe sleeve 60 which then serves as a supporting member to hold the plow in its elevated'inoperative position. When the plow is to be lowered, it is only necessary. to rock the upper end ofthe bar 44rearwardlysufiiciently to disengage its shoulder 49frorn the'support 60' whereupon the plow will be lowered to operative position by gravity. The laterally outwardly bent end portions 45 0f the rods '4'4ifacilitate such rearward rocking'of'thebars by hand, and they also serve to retain the bars 44in the ways against any. possible excessive downward movement of the plow beams and said bars.

In normal plowing, one wheel of the tractor rides in a previously madefurrow, while theother wheel rides on unplowed ground with the result that the normal horizontal plane of the tractor is tilted slightly with respect to the plane of the ground. Such tilting, as shown in Fig. 2, makes it desirable to provide an adjustment whereby the plow beams and the plows carried thereby, may be adjusted to cause the bottoms of the plows to assume a position substantially parallel to the ground surface when in operative plowing position, as shown in Fig. 2.

In the structure illustrated, such an adjustment is provided by making the hole I I which receives the pivot pin it! somewhat elongated in a vertical direction, and the hole l2 a loose fit on said pivot pin. This will permit the forked end or" the plow beam to be rocked somewhat relative to the pivot pin l0 whereby the plow carried by the beam will be correspondingly adjusted.

For holding the plow beam in any selected position of adjustment relative to the pivot pin it there is provided an angle bracket 66 which has one leg rigidly secured by welding or otherwise to the front portion 8 of the plow beam fork, and its other arm provided with an opening for receiving the threaded end portion of an eye bolt 61. The eye of the eye bolt 61 is formed to be a snug fit about the adjacent end portion of the pivot pin I I and upper and lower ends 68 and 8:? respectively on the stem of the eye bolt to facilitate adjustment of the eye bolt relative to the bracket 66 and fork arm 8.

Such relative adjustment of the eye bolt relative to the fork arm 8 will, of course, serve to efiect up and down adjustment of the fork arm 8 relative to the pivot pin l0 and thereby control It willfbe seen that upward the angular position '01 therplow "beam and of the plow bottom with rererence -to the normal horizontalplane of" the-tractor:

The described constructionprovides arelative 1y simple and' inexpensive two-way plow structure which maybe easily mounted'on the-tractor, and

which maybe easilyremoved'therefrom to facil'i'tate' employment 'of'th'e tractor for'other purposes. be removed since it"does' not ordinarily interfere with any other implement which is attachedto the tractor; and" the: normal draw bar coupling plate-23mm, of'course, remain irrplace' to serve its usual purpose: Changes in the described structure may be made-"without departing from the principles 'oftheinventi'on:

We claim:

1. A'two-way plow adapted tov be'mounted'on a tractor havingf'a rear axle housing and a fixed;

rear"end"nitching'*'plate; comprising a draw bar having'a pair of laterally spaced side arms'and a rod extending from one of said arms to the other'adjacent one end of each, said rod being rigidly secured'tosaid 'arms so as to form a rigid bail-like" draw bar,- a bar adapted to be attached adjacent its central portion to the bottom of the irrg forwardlyfrom the'opposite endportions of' said transverse" bar 'and respectively embracing the'opposite end portions of said draw bar rod adjacent'the respective side arms; and a pair of plow beams respectively connected to the free ends of'said draw 'bar arms:

2'. In atwo-way'tractor plow; a draw bar comprising a'pair of laterally spaced side arms which are rigidly interconnected by a transversely ex tending member, each end of said transversely extending member being attached to one of said side arms to form a rigid bail-like draw bar, a bar extending transversely of and adapted to be attached to a tractor, a pair of clevises secured to and projecting from said bar, said clevises embracing said transversely extending member of said bail-like draw bar to pivotally attach said draw bar to the tractor, a pair of vplow beams respectively connected to the free ends of said side arms, and a second pair of clevises each of which is rigidly secured to one end of said transverse bar so as to embrace the adjacent draw bar side arm to guide the pivotal movement thereof.

3. In a two-way tractor plow, a draw bar comprising a pair of laterally spaced side arms which are rigidly interconnected by a transversely extending member to form a rigid bail-like draw bar, a bar extending transversely of and adapted to be attached to the bottom portion of a tractor, a pair of clevises secured to and projecting from said bar, said clevises embracing the said trans versely extending member of said bail-like draw bar to pivotally attach said draw bar to the tractor, a pair of plow beams, pivotal means for connecting one of said plow beams .to each of said side arms, and means connected to one of the side arms for rocking said draw bar relative to said tractor about an axis defined by said transversely extending member to effect vertical adjustment of the connection between said draw bar and said plow beams.

4. In a two-way tractor plow, a draw bar comprising a pair of laterally spaced side arms and a vpair of laterally spaced rods extending from Thedrawbar angle member 1 9 need not" one of said arms to the other adjacent an end of each, said rods being rigidly secured to said arms so as to form. a rigid bail'like draw bar, a bar extending transversely of and adapted to be attached to a tractor, a pair of clevises secured to and projecting from said bar, said clevises em bracing one of said rods of said bail-like draw bar to pivotally attach said draw bar to the tractor, and a pair of plow beams respectively connected to the free ends of said side arms.

5. In a two-way tractor plow, a draw bar comprising a pair of laterally spaced side arms and a pair of laterally spaced rods extending from one of said arms to the other adjacent an end cl; each, said rods being rigidly secured to said arms so as to form a rigid bail-like draw bar, a bar extending transversely of and adapted to be attached to a tractor, a pair of clevises secured to and projecting from said bar, said cl-evises embracing one of said rods of said bail-like draw bar to p'ivotally attach said draw bar to the tractor, a pair of plow beams respectively connected to the free ends or" said side arms, and a second pair of clevises, each of which is secured to one end of said transverse bar so as to embrace the adjacent draw bar side arm to guide the pivotal movement thereof.

6. In a two-way tractor plow, a draw bar comprising a pair of laterally spaced side arms which are rigidly interconnected by a transversely extending member to form a rigid bail-like. draw, a bar extending transversely of and adapted to be attached to the bottom portion of a tractor, a pair of clevises secured to and projecting from said bar, said clevises embracing the said transversely extending member of saidbail-like draw bar to pivotally attach said draw bar to the tractor, a pair of plow beams, pivotal means for connecting one of said plow beams to each of said side arms, means connected to one of the side arms for rocking said draw bar relative to said tractor about an axis defined by said transversely extending member to effect vertical adjustment of the connection between said draw bar and said plow beams, and. a second pair of clevises, each of which is rigidly secured to one end of said transverse bar so as to embrace th adjacent draw bar side arm to guide the pivotal movement thereof.

MILTON T. I'IEDQUIST. KEITH HARROUN.

DAVID D. MAYHEW. ACHIEL VAN DE SAMPEL. ARTHUR J. WHALEN.

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